Breakaway Manhattan drop off questions?

[JAMESCC]

We don't cruise till October but I thought I'd ask this early. We are gonna be dropped off at the Breakaway pier 88 cruise terminal. How does this work? What is the process? When dropped off are we like right at the check in level or we have to go down stairs or an elevator? Any info about the terminal would be helpful, thanks.

[ColinIllinois]

Check this out, James.

 

http://www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/embarkingdisembarking/

[JAMESCC]

Check this out, James.

 

http://www.nycruise.com/manhattan-terminal/embarkingdisembarking/

 

I was on there once and read that but I kinda wanted first hand experience and suggestions. Where is this escalator? Is it far, can you walk to it? I'm not the biggest fan of elevators, kinda claustrophobic.

[meatball_nyc]

Hi James,

When you are dropped off at Pier 88 you will be on the same level as the check in part of the terminal. Hand over your luggage to the porters and go straight through the doors to begin check in.

The day you disembark from the ship is when you will be using the escalator to go down to the bottom level of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and customs. ( I highly recommend carrying your own luggage off if you can do so ).

Our first trip on Breakaway we were able to use the elevators instead. On our most recent trip, the elevators were not available so everyone had to use the escalator. It kinda feels like getting "kicked to the curb" on the last day as opposed to the warm welcome and smiles upstairs a week earlier. But it is pretty painless if all customs desks are open. Go out to the street and police will be directing passengers across the street.

Here is a link to CC member sebas030's thread about getting to and parking at the MCT. It has photos of signage for both the Passenger Drop Off and Parking areas. You will make a right and pass all the Piers until you get to 88. You cannot MISS Breakaway :D

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2057865

Hope this helps!

Have a great cruise!

 

~Robin

[bigfoot88]

Hi James,

When you are dropped off at Pier 88 you will be on the same level as the check in part of the terminal. Hand over your luggage to the porters and go straight through the doors to begin check in.

The day you disembark from the ship is when you will be using the escalator to go down to the bottom level of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and customs. ( I highly recommend carrying your own luggage off if you can do so ).

Our first trip on Breakaway we were able to use the elevators instead. On our most recent trip, the elevators were not available so everyone had to use the escalator. It kinda feels like getting "kicked to the curb" on the last day as opposed to the warm welcome and smiles upstairs a week earlier. But it is pretty painless if all customs desks are open. Go out to the street and police will be directing passengers across the street.

Here is a link to CC member sebas030's thread about getting to and parking at the MCT. It has photos of signage for both the Passenger Drop Off and Parking areas. You will make a right and pass all the Piers until you get to 88. You cannot MISS Breakaway :D

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2057865

Hope this helps!

Have a great cruise!

 

~Robin

 

James, the link to the board page is "Great"

 

As you can see we had been on the breakaway a number of times each time we drive. All of the comments James gave you are great and the posting on the board also gives great information. Not sure if you are going to Bermuda or Florida and your October visit we are doing Bemuda in October

[JAMESCC]

Hi James,

When you are dropped off at Pier 88 you will be on the same level as the check in part of the terminal. Hand over your luggage to the porters and go straight through the doors to begin check in.

The day you disembark from the ship is when you will be using the escalator to go down to the bottom level of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal and customs. ( I highly recommend carrying your own luggage off if you can do so ).

Our first trip on Breakaway we were able to use the elevators instead. On our most recent trip, the elevators were not available so everyone had to use the escalator. It kinda feels like getting "kicked to the curb" on the last day as opposed to the warm welcome and smiles upstairs a week earlier. But it is pretty painless if all customs desks are open. Go out to the street and police will be directing passengers across the street.

Here is a link to CC member sebas030's thread about getting to and parking at the MCT. It has photos of signage for both the Passenger Drop Off and Parking areas. You will make a right and pass all the Piers until you get to 88. You cannot MISS Breakaway :D

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2057865

Hope this helps!

Have a great cruise!

 

~Robin

 

Thank you VERY much that is the exact info I was looking for. First hand knowledge and experience from people who cruised from Pier 88. Thank you again very much. Is the pier efficient, are you checked in quick and aboard the ship?

[JAMESCC]

James, the link to the board page is "Great"

 

As you can see we had been on the breakaway a number of times each time we drive. All of the comments James gave you are great and the posting on the board also gives great information. Not sure if you are going to Bermuda or Florida and your October visit we are doing Bemuda in October

 

Thanks for the info. We are cruising to Bermuda Oct. 2nd.

[darrengs]

You have nothing to worry about. It is very intuitive, and there are plenty of people to ask.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[JAMESCC]

You have nothing to worry about. It is very intuitive, and there are plenty of people to ask.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Ok thanks. We usually cruise RCCL out of Cape Liberty but wanted to try a different line and NCL had great prices when we booked.

[Sand and Seas]

How early can you drop luggage with porters? My son is flying there this weekend on red-eye.

[mking8288]

BA is already well within range, following X's Summit inbound to NY - should be early arrival (very much, on-time) from live maritime tracking sites.

 

Porters are usually there as early as 7:30 & ready for the express self-walkoff and priority disembark crowds, and folks are pulling out of the rooftop parking as early as 8 AM. As long as they are there with their carts, they will start accepting luggage with the exchange of bags & tips (LOL) - 8:30 AM or later should not be a problem at all as the early birds begin arriving.

 

We are going to be on the BA again in 2 weeks & with our status, no need to pre-select a check-in time and can be there as early as 9:30 AM to do our check-in (and, that's after security screening inside the buiding) We typically timed our arrival around 10 AM to 10:30 AM and not unusual to see several hundred pax already checked in and waiting inside, eager to board - which they typically start around 11 to 11:15 AM. Haven guests are escorted & often board on arrival before the announcement, following by VIP's & guests with special needs, etc. and then by zone/group #.

 

Just remind the son to get a card with zone/group # for boarding purposes after going thru security from the "greeters" as they will direct the foot traffic into various stations.

[Sand and Seas]

Thanks for the detailed response! I'll pass this along to them.

 

They think I know everything about cruising, but that's thanks to all the great people like you on this board to help me out;)

[mking8288]

That's what CC is great for, despite all the critics - I'm sure you've advised him to download the free iConcierge App already, cellular signals inside the pier/terminal isn't great, even VZW ("Big Red") struggled due to locations of nearest towels.

 

But, many of the major underground NYC subway station platforms, like Penn Station & Times Square, etc. have decent & free WiFi signals, unsecured of course, but great to check maps, email & browse FAQ - or download from Play Store, etc. (no coverage on the subway trains, however) - invaluable for non-US visitors who otherwise might have to find a Starbucks or McD's to get a working signal, however slow.

 

Fogs & occassional showers during the overnight hours into the morning, should not be a major problem for inbound red eyes. :p

[Sand and Seas]

 

Fogs & occassional showers during the overnight hours into the morning, should not be a major problem for inbound red eyes. :p[/quote

 

They are on-board and all went smoothly. Thanks for your great advice:D